With his chest puffed out, Zhao Ming passed through the gate and arrived at an area with five stone statues. Aside from him, there was no one else.
At first, he stiffened, unsettled by the strange environment—an unease that faded when a voice echoed through the third testing hall.
"To pass the test, use what you learned in the second test to fight these statues. Enduring for more than three minutes may grant you direct appointment as a named disciple. Defeating one guarantees the title of outer disciple. Defeating more than one may earn special rewards. And defeating all five can secure a direct place in the inner court."
Hearing this, Zhao Ming's rigid expression darkened. He had learned nothing—only memorized.
"Damn it! Cursed immortals! Why didn't they explain this in the second test?"
He cursed, blaming the supervisors.
As he ranted, the statues before him began to come to life. First, their feet moved. Then their eyes opened, revealing five distinct gazes. Like the monuments, they followed the affinities of the five elements.
The moment they locked onto Zhao Ming, they did not hesitate. They charged at the speed of an ordinary human, their steps echoing like horse hooves striking the ground.
Seeing this, Zhao Ming cast aside all resentment and drew his sword.
But before he could even fully unsheathe it, a punch struck his chest, sending him flying backward violently.
"Aaaaa!"
A pained scream escaped his lips. His breath was knocked out of him. The blow alone was enough to leave him gasping. Beneath his robes, a wound opened, blood spilling out.
He failed.
He failed by not taking the second test seriously and by procrastinating, choosing to curse instead of act.
"No! No! No! I can't fail!"
Zhao Ming clenched his teeth, ready to get up and resist.
But before he could react, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed again. Then, multiple feet began striking his body with force.
Screams filled the third testing hall.
The burly youth was brutally beaten by the five stone statues, which showed no hesitation as they kicked him all over his body.
Lu Han, who had been watching, could no longer bear to look. It was too humiliating.
Stopping his observation, he took a deep breath.
His prediction had come true. The third test was indeed the most important. To pass it, one needed to master at least one technique learned in the second test.
"What a cruel selection method. A test like this is inhumane… it selects only the most cautious."
In truth, one didn't even need to be suspicious—just attentive enough to connect the dots.
"Zhao Ming deserved it. An arrogant man who acted like a bandit, provoking others at every turn, was bound to act impulsively. Even if he miraculously survives, he'll still die someday when he forgets he's no longer in his city, where his father is the supreme authority."
At that moment, Lu Han understood something essential: to survive in the immortal world, one had to act with intelligence and caution in every situation.
Taking a deep breath, he resumed climbing the staircase.
Zhao Ming was no longer useful to him.
Now, he could only rely on himself.
If he passed the first test, he would need to carefully study the second and prepare for the decisive moment—the third test.
With focused eyes shining with determination, Lu Han finished climbing the staircase and found himself before a line of about fifty people.
"The patient ones, who let others go ahead out of caution or fear of the tests… what a pity. The only ones who return down these stairs are those who fail the first test."
Thinking this, Lu Han closed his eyes to check on Zhao Ming's condition.
Instantly, he saw the burly youth, covered in blood, lying in a thicket filled with trees, alongside many others in the same state.
The sight made the hairs on his body stand on end. It was complete disregard for life. Young people who had left their homes in search of a better future were being discarded like this for failing.
With nausea rising in his throat and fear creeping in, Lu Han thought about retreating. If he failed, his fate might be even worse than death.
'No! I came here determined to become strong. Strong enough not to be at the mercy of others! I'm tired of living in mediocrity, waiting for scraps to fall from the sky and being exploited!'
Lu Han's life had always been like that.
To survive, he worked tirelessly for wealthy mortals, receiving less than a tenth of what was fair. And if he refused, he would simply be discarded. For an orphan like him, enduring humiliation was the only option.
"If I fail here, so be it! It's better than going back to that miserable life!"
Regaining his resolve, now calmer, Lu Han waited for his turn.
The anxiety was still there. After all, his life was on the line.
Half an hour later, everyone before him had finished. Fifteen passed; the rest had to return.
They were sad—but if they knew the fate of those who passed, they might have sighed in relief.
"Lu Han greets the immortal."
He cupped his hands politely and waited for instructions.
"Thank you for the greeting. Now, place your hand on the mirror."
The man replied expressionlessly.
"Yes."
Lu Han did not hesitate. He extended his right hand and touched the surface of the mirror.
Instantly, he felt a fluid sensation, as if he were submerging in water. Then came heat, followed by a cooling calm, like napping under a tree. That sensation was soon replaced by the roughness of digging into the earth with his bare hands.
After these four sensations, everything ceased.
Looking at the mirror, he saw four lights shining with moderate intensity, stronger than Zhao Ming's.
'Four roots? From what I felt… water, fire, wood, and earth?'
Not knowing whether that was good or bad, he looked at the immortal, who maintained the same neutral expression.
Lu Han concluded that his talent was below ideal, but not poor enough to be dismissed.
"Wood, earth, water, and fire roots, lower-mid grade. You may proceed to the second test."
The man pointed to the gate behind him.
Knowing his place, Lu Han gave a brief bow in gratitude and immediately moved forward.
His future depended on what he would learn from the monuments.
"I will survive!"
With his fists clenched, his nails digging into his own flesh, Lu Han—more determined than ever—stepped through the gate. The moment he crossed it, his vision blurred, and before he could react, he was already inside a hall.
The ceiling was made of an unfamiliar blue material, while the floor was covered in smooth ceramic. To the north, aligned in a row, stood five boards about two meters tall, covered in numerous characters.
Upon arriving, Lu Han did not head straight for the monuments. Instead, he approached the woman in charge of the test.
She had jet-black hair and deep eyes of the same color. Her features were delicate and well-proportioned, forming a beautiful face that, however, carried a haughty expression.
"Lu Han greets the fairy. May I ask the purpose of this test? I just arrived, I don't have many friends, and I don't have the courage to approach others because of my shabby appearance."
Lu Han scratched his head, pretending to be embarrassed.
The fairy stared at him for a few seconds, as if evaluating him.
At that moment, he truly looked terrible.
Anyone who glanced at him would immediately take him for a lowly commoner of the lowest class.
And that was exactly what Lu Han wanted.
With such a plain appearance, he could buy time in this test without raising suspicion.
After all, who would pay attention to someone who had the nerve to come take the exam in such a state?